Frazar finds fun at top

By Associated Press | October 8, 2004

Harrison Frazar took some time off to rest and find a way to make golf fun again. For the second week in a row it paid off with a share of the first-round lead, though he had to share it with six others in the Michelin Championship at Las Vegas.

Frazar shot a bogey-free 64 yesterday to take his place among a crowded group at the top of the leaderboard at 8 under par. Two of those players, Danny Ellis and Jason Bohn, shot 63s, but their scores were on the par-71 TPC Canyons course while the others played the par-72 TPC Summerlin and Bear's Best layouts. Also tied at 8 under were Scott Verplank, Kent Jones, Steve Lowery, and Billy Mayfair.

A tournament that traditionally gives up some of the lowest scores on the PGA Tour was shortened from 90 to 72 holes this year, but scores remained low. Of the 144 players in the field, 120 broke par, and 42 were within three shots of the lead.

LPGA -- Grace Park had four straight birdies on the back nine in a 6-under 66 that put her in a tie for the lead with Kim Saiki and Silvia Cavalleri after the opening round of the LPGA Asahi Ryokuken International Championship in North Augusta, S.C.

Park was 4 under after just six holes in the LPGA's final full-field event of the year. She was even sharper coming in, using strong approach shots for the birdie run that started on No. 12.

European -- Graeme McDowell matched a course record with a 10-under 62 on the famed Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland, to take the first-round lead in the Dunhill Links Championship.